Warning
Please note that hillwalking when there is snow lying requires an ice-axe, crampons and the knowledge, experience and skill to use them correctly. Summer routes may not be viable or appropriate in winter. See winter information on our skills and safety pages for more information.

The Lyon, the walk and the windchill...(Meall Buidhe)

Date walked: 17/03/2012

Time taken: 3 hours

Distance: 7.5 km

Ascent: 551m

1 person thinks this report is great.

Register or Login free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).

Kicked out of bed at 3am by Mrs 2d - apparently I was already walking up the hill in my sleep. She indicated that I was seriously disrupting her beauty sleep!! I went down stairs to have a cup of tea, and after half an hour I thought I might as well just get ready and go and I might get the chance to see a sunrise in the hils if mother nature co-operated.

So we (Ruby and me) set off just after 4am, heading towards Killin and the Lawers reserve finally reaching the parking spot at Loch An Daimh. As we arrived just before dawn we were treated to the magnificent sight of a large herd of deer.

. (I suspect the first people to arrive at the car park each day have a fair chance of seeing this herd). After a brief staring contest the herd slowly moved off across the hillside. Phew! I dont think either us fancied walking through the middle of all those stags!!!

5 minutes later we were off and heading up the hill. At this point conditions were just perfect. Only one or two clouds in the sky and very little wind. That would soon change

The initial climb up the steep hillside was a real drag with boggy and very slippy conditions underfoot. However the views as the sun broke the horizon more than made up for this. I was delighted to see An Stuc in the Lawers range basked in early morning sunshine - the climb from the previous week. I got a better view from 15 miles away than I did from 15 feet last week!!

As we gained height I started to get a great view of Stuc An Lochan across the otherside of the Dam. I can't wait to get back to tackle this one!

Stuchd an Lochan panorama

Just as we pulled up out of the first climb and I settled into my walking rythmn I noticed a storm moving in from the west. If the walk had been more difficult with scrambles or steep climbs I would have seriously considered turning around at this point. However I knew from the map and reports that there really wasnt anything too difficult ahead and so we carried on. 20 minutes later it felt like we were in the middle of a full scale hurricane with a mixture of snow and sleet lashing us in the face and we pushed on up the hill.

An Stuc quickly disappearing from view

As we reached the summit ridge the wind and the windchill was absolutely ferocious and I was really thankful for the marker cairns dotted along the top.

I think at the point Ruby would gladly have called it a day!

summit ridge

As we pulled along the ridge the clouds began to clear although the wind was still as bad as ever. Probably the worst I have felt so far on a summit ridge and I guess because I happened to be there just as a squall hit the mountain.

First view of the summit cairn as the clouds begin to clear

And after 1hr 50 minutes we reached the summit, staying just long enough to take a few pictures. At this point I think we were both starting to get frostbite on the tips of our noses!!!

summit cairn panorama

another one for Rubys scrapbook!

Summit cairn looking over towards Stuchd an Lochan

Once back down off the summit ridge the wind dropped to almost nothing and the sun came out again. It was almost warm enough to sunbathe!!!

Ruby with the new collar Mrs 2d bought for her. Think I will remove this for future photo's - she is a Tomgirl Dog afterall!!

The walk back to the car was uneventful although we did stop and have a brief chat to the only 2 other people we had seen all day - a couple of guys who had driven up from Edinburgh to tackle this munro. Nice chaps.

A final glimpse over to Stuch An Lochan - we will be back soon to walk that one. It looks like a superb day out!

Stuchd An Lochan

We also saw this beast in the distance - not sure which one Nevis, Starav???? anyone confirm.

Ben?????

So after almost 3 hours we were back at the car just around 9am with the whole day still ahead of us. Unfortunately plans back in Stirling meant no more walking though!!

Good report 2d Ruby must be difficult to see at this time of year up the hills same colours as the Ptarmagins i keep seeingAs for the hills? Meall a'Bhuiridh and Creise possibly? if i remember correctly you also get a good view "weather permitting"Of the Big Bookil from the summit of Meall Buidh? I am ready to be corrected though

scoob999 wrote:Good report 2d Ruby must be difficult to see at this time of year up the hills same colours as the Ptarmagins i keep seeingAs for the hills? Meall a'Bhuiridh and Creise possibly? if i remember correctly you also get a good view "weather permitting"Of the Big Bookil from the summit of Meall Buidh? I am ready to be corrected though

Scoob - aye your right about the dug...when we stop for lunch in the snow I can't see her and then I look round and my sandwich has been demolished - think she was trained by the viet cong!!!- if you look close you will see she is a bit of a pudding Think you might be right about the hills. Had a look on the map and it makes sense but... Please correct if incorrect!

Last edited by 2dalmatians on Mon Mar 19, 2012 2:44 am, edited 1 time in total.

jonny616 wrote:Nice report 2d. Imust start getting up earlier in the morning, although i was lucky enough to watch the sunset from Meall Buidhe while cooking my tea.

I bet that was some view j616. Had my first wild camp (Meall Greigh) last summer. Waking up on a hill without the telly the traffic or the trashmen with their bin lorry is a magic moment (no offence to the recycling professionals who do a fabulous job - in our area anyway). Mrs 2d thinks waking up without my slobbering chops 6 inches away is a #%#*%#! great moment too!

2dalmatians wrote:We also saw this beast in the distance - not sure which one Nevis, Starav???? anyone confirm.

Which direction???

Graeme

As you walk back towards the walk start it is off to right if that makes sense. It would be to the right of the second last picture of stucdh an lochan. So I think west or northwest? Or maybe south or south east lol!

2dalmatians wrote:We also saw this beast in the distance - not sure which one Nevis, Starav???? anyone confirm.

Which direction???

Graeme

As you walk back towards the walk start it is off to right if that makes sense. It would be to the right of the second last picture of stucdh an lochan. So I think west or northwest? Or maybe south or south east lol!